Most disappointing AI output comes from disappointing prompts. “Write a blog post about SEO” gives the model almost nothing to work with. A good prompt reads more like a creative brief.
The five-part prompt
- Role — who should the AI act as? (“an experienced B2B copywriter”)
- Task — exactly what you want. (“write three LinkedIn posts announcing…”)
- Context — audience, product, what makes it different, examples you like.
- Format — length, structure, headings, bullet points, tables.
- Constraints — tone, words to avoid, facts that must be included.
Our free AI Prompt Generator builds this structure for you from a few fields.
Give examples
Paste one or two examples of writing you like and say what you like about them. Models are very good at matching patterns — show, don’t just tell.
Ask it to ask you questions
End your prompt with “Before you start, ask me up to three clarifying questions.” You’ll get a better first draft and spend less time rewriting.
Iterate in the same conversation
Treat the first answer as a draft. Ask for a shorter intro, a stronger hook, or a version for a different audience. Specific feedback (“make the second paragraph more concrete with an example”) works better than “make it better”.
Always verify facts
AI models can state incorrect facts confidently. Check statistics, quotes, prices and dates against a primary source before you publish.
